gravamen Meaning, Definition & Usage

Gra*va"men noun
Etymology
L., fr. gravare to load, burden, fr. gravis heavy, weighty. See Grave, a.
Wordforms
plural L Gravamina E Gravamens
Definitions
  1. (Law) The grievance complained of; the substantial cause of the action; also, in general, the ground or essence of a complaint. Bouvier.

Webster 1913